I do exactly what Bioburner does just because a small maintenance fire in cooler temps will not hurt a thing but also keeps more of a constant warmth longer. Stove still ramps up and down just like in auto mode. I like the manual only because the maintenance burn keeps heat pumping and less time to get right back to where it left off. Any savings in pellets when it stops using them while off in auto is a moot point because some will be burned during the maintenance cycle but MORE will be burned to get the temps back up from cold to warm. It's not really any trade off there IMO for saving fuel. Keeping the homes core mass more steady requires less umph & energy to get it there from colder swings. Think about thermal mass in concrete floors like Bio and I have. They are a BTU sucking PITA to get up to speed but require little to maintain said speed.
Mine can take a lot of heat and wood to get up in temp once they are cold vs. smaller hot cycles to maintain them. Kind of like pushing a car uphill so you can coast down the other side. It takes much less energy (aka: heat ) if your car stays on top of that hill waiting to coast down maintaining enough energy to arrive at the top of the next one.
F4, I believe that it truly is a
phobia. Great thread title BTW! Once colder temps hit the fire tends to throttle down and back up before completely going out anyway so the igniter isn't used again. I feel many people think that their igniters just constantly cycle whether needed or not which is NOT the case even while running in auto ignite. In the shoulder seasons it will cycle more IF your stove goes out after temps are met. Something (igniter) has to get the fire going again but they do not just come on for chits and grins only to wear out and force the purchase of a new one.
Another point for some thought is many debate that lowering your room distribution blower saves pellets. OK.......... I am sure an argument can be made that in theory this practice cools the heat exchanger faster. Have fun proving that with any sizable or real significant numbers!
I am very good with losing all three of those said pellets to keep my distribution blower on high throwing out all of the heat it can with the already burned pellets that were just sent out the exhaust anyhow. How many pellets are in the 40 lb. bags again? I don't think losing 3 will rock the boat much.
My point is that even running in auto the igniter ONLY fires when it needs to regardless. It just simply does not fire up on timed cycles just because it's time. Second point is that the distribution blower pushing out MORE heat is not killing anyone's MPG's either. The evil igniter wanting you to replace it just because and the frivolous pellet sucking distribution blower is a MYTH. I think Big Foot steals more pellets and runs around with static in his fur shorting igniters prematurely. I might not be the smartest kid on the short bus for the mentally challenged, but logic, fact, and fiction I do understand.
Now who's up for some debate on the overall wing span and speed the Tooth Fairy can fly with all of those baby teeth on board?
Why even use the igniter at all?
